Lever controlled trolling plate for outboard motors



June 30, 1942. c. WEBER 2,288,504

LEVER CONTROLLED TROLLlNG PLATE FOR OUTBOARD MOTORS Filed June so, 1941 Uharles Wale? INVENTOR ATTORNEYS Patented June 30, 1942 LEVER CONTROLLED TROLLING PLATE FOR OUTBOARD MOTORS Charles Weber, Outlook, Wash., assignor of onehalf to Otto Wellner, Outlook, Wash.

Application June 30, 1941, Serial No. 400,514

(Cl. 1l517) 2 Claims.

This invention relates to a lever controlled trolling plate for outboard motors.

Outboard motors are prone to stall when slowed down to a speed adaptable for fishing with trolling lines, and with this in mind, the present invention provides a hinged, plate disposed in rear of the propeller and adapted to be controlled from the operators seat to swing from a horizontal feathering position through an arc to approximately a vertical position in rear of the propeller, to oppose forward movement of a boat under action of the propeller, so that the boat will be held back to the proper speed for trolling while the motor can be running at its normal or increased speed.

A iurther object is to provide means for attaching the trolling plate at three points to the outboard motor so that the device cannot be easily displaced or damaged.

A further object is to provide a ratchet bar associated with a single lever and pawl through the medium of which the operator may swing the trolling plate to any desired angular inclination while trolling, to suit the speed of the boat to the conditions of weather and water.

A further object is to provide a device of this character which will be formed of a few strong, simple and durable parts, which will be inexpensive to manufacture, and which will not easily get out of order.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention consists of certain novel details of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter fully described and claimed, it being understood that various modifications may be resorted to within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

In the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a lever controlled trolling plate, constructed in accordance with the invention, attached to an outboard motor.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the lever controlled trolling plate detached from the motor.

Figure 3 is a cross sectional view taken on the line 33 of Figure 1, showing the trolling plate and its connections to the cavitation plate of the motor and to the controlling lever, in top plan.

Referring now to the drawing in which like characters of reference designate similar parts in the various views, the lever controlled trolling plate comprises a pair of relative spaced arms I which are pivoted between the ends to the anti- 55 cavitation plate I! of an out-board motor [2 through the medium of a pivot pin l3 passed through a pair of hinge ears l4 formed integral with a plate [5, which is secured to the anticavitation plate by a bolt 15 or other connector, as best shown in Figure 3. A substantially circular trolling plate ll is secured to the outer ends of the arms by bolts I8 and wing nuts l9.

A horizontal arm 2? extends rearwardly from the exhaust pipe 2| of the outboard motor and is secured in place by a two-part clamp 22, which embraces the exhaust pipe and the shaft inclosing tube 23 of the outboard motor. The clamp comprises a plate 2d which is secured to the arm by bolts 25 or other connectors and which is provided with two seini-tubular jaws 28. A clamp bolt 29 is engaged through both plates to draw the jaws together. The two-part clamp secures the horizontal arm 253 to the exhaust pipe and shaft inclosing tube at a point substantially midway between the base 3!] of the motor and the anti-cavitation plate I i.

A control lever 31 is pivoted intermediate its ends to the horizontal arm 2i] through the medium of a pivot pin 32. A pair of spaced links 33 are pivotally connected at the lower ends t l of the links being bent outwardly and engaged through openings in the arms. The upper ends of the links are provided with eyes 35 through which and the lower end of the control lever iii, a pivot pin is engaged.

A ratchet bar 3'! is secured at one end to the motor base 33 and at the free end is slidabiy engaged through an opening 38 in the control lever 3|. For securing the ratchet bar to the motor base, a pair of angular brackets are riv eted as shown at 4B, or otherwise secured to the base. A substantially triangular plate ll is provided with hinge lugs 22 which are engaged through openings in the angular brackets The plate ii is riveted as shown at or otherwise secured to the ratchet arm A pair of inclined brace rods t l are provided with openings at the upper ends to receive the pintles 42 and at the lower ends are provided with openings to receive the pivot pin 32 of the control lever 3i.

It will here be pointed out that the angular brackets 39, clamps 22, and plate 15, attach the device at three points to the outboard motor so that displacement and breakage is positively prevented.

The ratchet bar 37 is provided with a longitudinal row of openings 45, which receives a latch pin 46 which is slidably mounted in guides 4! carried by the operating lever. A grip 43 is pivoted to the lever 31, as shown at 49, and is connected by a link 50 to the latch pin 48. A helical spring 5| is sleeved on the latch pin. and bearings against a collar 52 on the latch pin to releasably hold the latch pin in one of the openings 45.

In released position the trolling plate ill extends substantially horizontally from the outboard motor in rear of and above the propeller so as to feather in the water and present no obstruction to the speed of the boat when the motor is running. As the operator grips the upper end of the control lever and the grip 48, the latch pin 46 will be withdrawn from one of the openings 45 in the ratchet bar so that the operator may draw the lever toward him with resultant rocking of the trolling plate I! on the hinge pintle [3 to any desired angular inclination in rear of the propeller, as shown by dotted line in Figure 1, and upon the operator releasing his grip on the latch and lever, the latch pin will be received in another one of the openings 45 to releasably hold the trolling plate in adjusted position. The angular inclination of the trolling plate may thus be varied at will during normal or advanced speed of the outboard motor to prevent drag of greater or less degree on the boat and slow down the speed of the boat to permit trolling under various weather and water conditions.

From the above description it is thought that arms pivoted between their ends to the anti-cavitation plate, a substantially circular trolling plate secured to the outer ends of the arms, links connected to the inner ends of the arms, a horizontal arm extending rearwardly from the exhaust pipe, a clamp embracing the exhaust pipe and the shaft inclosing tube and securing said arm to the pipe and tube, said arm being disposed between the anti-cavitation plate and the base of the motor, braces extending from the base of the motor to the outer end of the arm, a lever pivoted between its ends to the arm having its lower end pivotally connected to said links, said lever being provided near its upper end with an opening, a ratchet bar pivotally secured to the base of the motor and extending rearwardly from the motor through said opening, and a latch carried by the lever engaging the ratchet bar to hold the trolling plate in adjusted positions from horizontal to vertical position in rear of the propeller.

2. A device for controlling the speed of a mo tor boat having an outboard motor provided with a driven propeller, an exhaust pipe, a propeller shaft inclosing tube, and an anti-cavitation plate, said device comprising a trolling plate, means for pivotally securing the trolling plate to the anti-cavitation plate at an angle to the propeller in rear of the propeller, an arm projecting rear wardly from the exhaust pipe and propeller shaft inclosing tube, a lever pivoted intermediate its ends to the outer end of the arm and pivotally connected at its lower end to said means for rocking the plate to various angular adjusted positions, a ratchet bar projecting rearwardly from the outboard motor, and a spring pressed latch carried by the lever engaging the ratchet bar to hold the trolling plate in it adjusted positions.

CHARLES 

